Anorexia Nervosa in Males: An Often Overlooked Minority

1820 Words4 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: Biological causes of anorexia

For many the term “Anorexia” conjures up memories of bone thin, weight obsessed teenage girls, models, and actresses. However, as the spotlight has been shined on Anorexia bringing this secretive and quiet disorder to a wider public perception, many still suffer in silence: either too ashamed to seek treatment, or because of an improper diagnosis. Over three million men each year are affected by Anorexia. In spite of this, men are less likely to be diagnosed, and the disorder is often overlooked due to the misconception that it is a “girl’s disease”. Unlike females, who are generally afraid to become overweight in an image obsessed society, males affected by the disorder tend to believe they are overweight, suffer from depression, or from maladaptive versions of perfection. Add in the pressures of competition and the dangers of Anorexia among men are increased, and unfortunately, for many of the men these dangers remain mostly unknown. Anorexia Nervosa is categorized as an eating disorder. Some of its symptoms include: a refusal to maintain body weight at eighty-five percent or greater of expected norms, obsession with body image/weight, isolation, poor or deluded self-image, depression and a need to maintain rigid control over their eating, appetite, and calorie intake (National Association of Anorexia and Associated Disorders, 2011). Anorexia is considered a serious disorder that often coexists with other disorders such as; depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and personality disorders. It can also manifest as a response to traumatic events such as molestation or rape. The disorder is essentially the same in both males and females. However, there are different factors for each gender. While females tend to have a grea... ... middle of paper ... ...ordered-eating-habits.htm on 2011, November 04. Nevin, D. (2010). 2011-2012 Wrestling Weight Management Information. Nevada Interscholastic Activities Association. Retrieved from http://www.niaa.com/sports/wrest/wwm/wwm2009-10Info on 2011, November 04. Shaw, G. (2007, November 08). Anorexia: The Body Neglected What, exactly, does anorexia nervosa do inside the human body? The heart and bones suffer the most. WebMD. Retrieved from http://www.webmd.com/mental-health/anorexia-nervosa/features/anorexia-body-neglected on 2011, November 04. Perry, D. (Producer & Director). (2008). Boy Interrupted [Motion Picture]. (Available from http://www.amazon.com/Boy-Interrupted-TBC/dp/B002FU6F16/re) Waltz, V. (2011). Athletes and Eating Disorders: Dark Truths About the Hunger to Win. BU TodayBostonia. Retrieved from http://www.bu.edu/boswtonia/web/proctor/ on 2011, November 04.

Show More
Related

  • Anorexia Nervosa Case Study

    743 Words  | 2 Pages

    Anorexia Nervosa may be described directly as an eating disease classified by a deficit in weight, not being able to maintain weight appropriate for one’s height. Anorexia means loss of appetite while Anorexia Nervosa means a lack of appetite from nervous causes. Before the 1970s, most people never heard of Anorexia Nervosa. It was identified and named in the 1870s, before then people lived with this mental illness, not knowing what it was, or that they were even sick. It is a mental disorder, which distorts an individual’s perception of how they look. Looking in the mirror, they may see someone overweight

    Read More

  • Eating Disorders in College Athletes

    2228 Words  | 5 Pages

    Powers, P.S., & Johnson, C. (1996). Small victories: Prevention of eating disorders among athletes. Eating Disorders: The Journal of Treatment and Prevention, 4, 364-367.

    Read More

  • Anorexia Nervosa: Body Image and Internalization Issues Among People from Different Ethnic Groups

    965 Words  | 2 Pages

    Anorexia nervosa is characterized by a distorted body image. The individual is severely underweight and thinks they are fat or has a fear of becoming fat (Comer, 2013).

    Read More

  • Family Dysfunction and Anorexia: Is there a correlation?

    1225 Words  | 3 Pages

    Many causes are attributed to anorexia, and scientists have studied the personalities, genetics, environments, and biochemistry of people suffering from this disorder. Women most often share various traits--although the more that is learned, the more complex each individual case becomes--low self-esteem, feelings of helplessness, and a fear ...

    Read More

  • Anorexia Nervosa in Teenage Girls

    613 Words  | 2 Pages

    Newcomb, Pippa. "Anorexia's Open Secrets." Irish Times 10 Mar. 2009: n. pag. EBSCO Host. Web. 3 Mar. 2014.

    Read More

  • Muscle Dysmorphia

    1178 Words  | 3 Pages

    Mitchell, Natasha. "Bigorexia: Young Men, Body Image and Steroids." Radio National. ABC RN Life Matters, 10 Mar. 2014. Web. 04 May 2014.

    Read More

  • An Overview of Anorexia Nervosa

    1876 Words  | 4 Pages

    Out of all mental illnesses found throughout the world, eating disorders have the highest mortality rate. Anorexia nervosa is one of the more common eating disorders found in society, along with bulimia nervosa. Despite having many definitions, anorexia nervosa is simply defined as the refusal to maintain a normal body weight (Michel, 2003). Anorexia nervosa is derived from two Latin words meaning “nervous inability to eat” (Frey, 2002). Although anorexics, those suffering from anorexia, have this “nervous inability to eat,” it does not mean that they do not have an appetite—anorexics literally starve themselves. They feel that they cannot trust or believe their perceptions of hunger and satiation (Abraham, 2008). Anorexics lose at least 15 percent of normal weight for height (Michel, 2003). This amount of weight loss is significant enough to cause malnutrition with impairment of normal bodily functions and rational thinking (Lucas, 2004). Anorexics have an unrealistic view of their bodies—they believe that they are overweight, even if the mirror and friends or family say otherwise. They often weigh themselves because they possess an irrational fear of gaining weight or becoming obese (Abraham, 2008). Many anorexics derive their own self-esteem and self-worth from body weight, size, and shape (“Body Image and Disordered Eating,” 2000). Obsession with becoming increasingly thinner and limiting food intake compromises the health of individuals suffering from anorexia. No matter the amount of weight they lose or how much their health is in jeopardy, anorexics will never be satisfied with their body and will continue to lose more weight.

    Read More

  • Anorexia Nervosa Throughout History

    1123 Words  | 3 Pages

    As defined by the National Eating Disorders Association, “Anorexia Nervosa is a serious, potentially life-threatening eating disorder characterized by self-starvation and excessive weight loss.” (NEDA). The term “Anorexia Nervosa” literally means “neurotic loss of appetite”, and could be more generally defined as the result of a prolonged self-starvation and an unhealthy relationship regarding food and self-image. It is characterized by “resistance to maintaining body weight at or above a minimally normal weight for age and height”, “intense fear of weight gain or being “fat”, even though underweight”, “disturbance in the experience of body weight or shape, undue influence of weight or shape on self-evaluation, or denial of the seriousness of low body weight”, and “loss of menstrual periods in girls and women post-puberty.”(NEDA) Among women on a range of 15 to 24 years old, AN has been proved to have 12 times the annual mortality rate of all death causes, and from premature deaths of anorexic patients, 1 in every 5 is caused by suicide, which gives a rise of 20% for suicide probability. (EDV)

    Read More

  • Overview Of Anorexia Nervosa

    958 Words  | 2 Pages

    Anorexia Nervosa (AN) is an eating disorder with the highest mortality rate of any other mental disorder. The National Association of Anorexia Nervosa and Associated Disorders characterizes the disorder as “a relentless pursuit of thinness and unwillingness to maintain a normal or healthy body weight”. (2014) Individuals also experience a “distortion of body image, intense fear of gaining weight and extremely disturbed eating behavior.” (National Association of Anorexia Nervosa and Related Disorders, 2014) As a result, they experience complications physically, mentally and socially. About 80% of individuals with eating disorders suffer from cardiac complications with death due to arrhythmias being the most common cause. This paper will focus on the connection between AN and cardiovascular rhythm disturbances. Individuals with this disorder have an increased chance of sudden death due to cardiovascular abnormalities like bradycardia, myocardial modification including atrophy and refeeding syndrome. (Casiero & Frishman, 2006)

    Read More

  • Eating Disorders

    2394 Words  | 5 Pages

    Anorexia is a serious and life threatening condition. It can result in death due to starvation, heart failure, or electrolyte imbalance. The first step in helping someone suffering with anorexia is to diagnose the physical characteristics attributed with the disease...

    Read More

  • Anorexia Nervosa

    1563 Words  | 4 Pages

    Anorexia nervosa is a life threatening eating disorder defined by a refusal to maintain fifteen percent of a normal body weight through self-starvation (NAMI 1). Ninety-five percent of anorexics are women between the ages of twelve and eighteen, however, “…in the past twenty years, this disorder has become a growing threat to high school and college students”(Maloney and Kranz 60). Anorexia produces a multitude of symptoms, and if not treated, anorexia can lead to permanent physical damage or death.

    Read More

  • Origins of The Beauty Myth

    1573 Words  | 4 Pages

    According to Laura Shapiro, a notable researcher on eating disorders, the medical condition of anorexia consists of several elements. By definition, anorexia nervosa is a condition characterized by intense fear of gaining weight or becoming obese, as well as a distorted body image, and a feeling of loss of control (Shapiro 69).

    Read More

  • Adolescent Eating Disorders

    1663 Words  | 4 Pages

    In 1978, Brunch called anorexia nervosa a 'new disease' and noted that the condition seemed to overtake ?the daughters of the well-to-do, educated and successful families.? Today it is acknowledged and accepted that anorexia affects more than just one gender or socio-economic class; however, much of the current research is focused on the female gender. ?Anorexia nervosa is characterized by extreme dieting, intense fear of gaining weight, and obsessive exercising. The weight loss eventually produces a variety of physical symptoms associated with starvation: sleep disturbance, cessation of menstruation, insensitivity to pain, loss of hair on the head, low blood pressure, a variety of cardiovascular problems and reduced body temperature. Between 10% and 15% of anorexics literally starve themselves to death; others die because of some type of cardiovascular dysfunction (Bee and Boyd, 2001).?

    Read More

  • Anorexia Nervosa

    1077 Words  | 3 Pages

    Anorexia may not be noticed in early stages. The Anorexic usually chooses to wear layered and baggy clothes to hide the “ugly fat body” .An Anorexic may have ritualistic eating patterns such as cutting food into little tiny pieces and weighing themselves. These can be found in people who are on a healthy diet, but in Anorexics these behaviors are extremely exaggerated. Other warnings are deliberate self-starvation with weight loss, fear of gaining weight, refusal to eat, denial of hunger, constant exercising, sensitivity to cold, absent or irregular periods, loss of scalp perception of being fat when the person is really to this. Some other associated features are depressed mood, somatic sexual dysfunction, and ...

    Read More

  • The Factors of Eating Disorders

    1806 Words  | 4 Pages

    Of the three eating disorders, anorexia gets the most attention and has the highest mortality rate of six percent out of any mental illness. According to the International Journal of Eating Disorders, half of the deaths caused by anorexia are suicide. Anorexia is when an individual feels that his or her body is distorted. Anorexia is also when an individual starves himself or herself because of the fear of being overweight (Elkins 44). If an individual suffers from anorexia they will loose anywhere from fifteen to sixty percent of their body weight by starving his or herself. Some of the symptoms of anorexia are heart problems, anemia, and fertility problems (“Eating Disorders”). Another horrible eating disorder is bulimia, which is when a person over eats, feels guilty, and then purges, take...

    Read More

More about Anorexia Nervosa in Males: An Often Overlooked Minority

Open Document